Mr. Durant picked up two hand-counted votes in East Brookfield and one hand-counted vote in Southbridge.

Mr. Alicea picked up one hand-counted vote in East Brookfield.

Still to be tabulated are six provisional ballots — four from Oxford and one each from Southbridge and East Brookfield — and two overseas ballots, one each from Oxford and Spencer.

Mr. Alicea has not returned a phone message this afternoon. Last night the four-year legislator said he has not conceded the race and would meet with his lawyer today about a recount.

Mr. Alicea's 2,693 to 1,675 advantage in his native Southbridge, a community that votes Democratic, was not large enough, as Mr. Durant won in Charlton 2,508 to 2,162; Spencer 1,261 to 860; Oxford 613-511; and East Brookfield 529-356.

“We're cautiously optimistic,” said Mr. Durant, who received numerous congratulatory calls, including from U.S. Sen. Scott P. Brown.

“We'll see what happens. These provisional ballots won't be counted until next Friday, when the election becomes official,” Mr. Durant said.

“Then we go into a recount. We're in a wait and see mode. I'm certainly happy about picking up a couple of additional votes.”

A provisional ballot is contingent upon verification of that voter's eligibility.

It is used when the voter refuses to show a photo identification, voters' names does not appear on electoral rolls for a given precinct, voters' registration contains inaccurate or outdated information such as the wrong address or misspelled name, or voters' ballot has already been recorded.

The Telegram & Gazette contacted town clerks in each of the five towns today for final results. The clerks reported there was better-than-average turnout and that it was the closest House of Representative race in memory.